James Cartlidge MP: written questions 2024
512 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Lasers: WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress his Department has made on extending the range of radio frequency directed energy weapons.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has committed to developing and continuing to invest in UK Sovereign Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace. Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon sare a new ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLasers: WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his international allies on the potential export of radio frequency directed energy weapons.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the continued investment in UK Sovereign Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace. The advanced technology is being developed by a joint team fro...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLasers: WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of procuring the radio frequency directed energy weapon capability.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the continued investment in UK Sovereign Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW) technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace.The MOD has committed £184 million to Direct ...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 3741 on Defence: Expenditure, how many additional documents have been included for consideration in Ministerial boxes as a result of changed thresholds for min
Answer: Over the last four months, Ministers have reviewed all proposed Departmental spending that exceeds the approval thresholds. These decisions are consolidated into a holistic submission for Ministers, with an average of one a week.
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Defence: ConsultantsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department plans to spend on consultancy fees in (a) the 2024-25 financial year and (b) each remaining financial year of the Parliament.
Answer: We have taken immediate action to stop all non-essential Government consultancy spending this financial year. Spend on consultancy in 2024-25 will be published in the Department’s annual report and accounts in due course. We have not yet set External Assi...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGuided WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has authorised any orders for Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles since the general election.
Answer: No, Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles remains one of the top priorities for the Army as it's critical to providing the Apache with the means to fight on the modern battlefield. In-Year Funding has been protected to ensure this procurement can proceed.
Answered 16 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmy: VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the Army’s fleet of heavy equipment transporters.
Answer: The Army’s Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) capability is delivered through a service contract with KBR. The contract, which commenced in July 2024, provides the Army with 80 HET trains (consisting of tractor and trailer) and all maintenance activity and...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDiego GarciaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18155More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to oral answer of 13 November 2024 by the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on Chagos Islands, Official Report, Column 793, what
Answer: The Government fully respects the calls for transparency. However, confirming these costs could affect the UK's ability - and that of our closest allies - to negotiate basing agreements in the future therefore putting secure operations at risk. We are not...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordArmy: VehiclesMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18154More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an estimate of the total number of heavy equipment transporters in service within the Army tabulated by those (a) currently available and (b) in maintenance.
Answer: The Army’s Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) capability is delivered through a service contract with KBR. The contract, which commenced in July 2024, provides the Army with 80 HET trains (consisting of tractor and trailer) and all maintenance activity and...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGlobal Combat Air ProgrammeMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 16232 on Global Combat Air Programme, whether his Department plans to separately ring-fence global combat air programme expenditure for (a) the core platform and
Answer: The UK is committed to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), as the Prime Minister has stated. There are no plans to ringfence GCAP or associated systems, which will be managed in line with the Department's other non-ringfenced programmes.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18152More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his planned timetable is for publishing the next Equipment Plan.
Answer: In light of the Strategic Defence Review and Spending Review we will not be publishing our Equipment Plan publication this year - and the NAO will not be producing their report either.This Government is committed to improving transparency, including aroun...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18151More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the RAF budget is for autonomous collaborative platforms in (a) 2024-25, (b) 2025-26, (c) 2026-27, (d) 2027-28, (e) 2028-2029 and (f) 2029-30 broken down by (i) R&D, (ii) procurement of platforms, (iii) supp
Answer: I am withholding the allocated budget for the autonomous collaborative platforms RAF capability portfolio, as it would harm our commercial negotiating position with potential defence suppliers.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMilitary Aircraft: HelicoptersMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18150More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question 15458 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what capability gaps will exist in the interim period.
Answer: The Puma can conduct a wide range of tasks including aerial firefighting, movement of troops, search and rescue response to disaster relief and humanitarian operations. The MOD is looking to ensure that capability gaps on Cyprus and in Brunei are either f...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18149More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) requests for quotation and (b) requests for proposal were issued by his Department for new capabilities for the armed forces since July 2024 that were not (i) initiated by the previous Government and
Answer: The Department is not able to distinguish how many requests for quotation and requests for proposal that has been issued for the Armed Forces. The Department cannot define whether it was initiated by the previous Government. The Department can provide the...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLasers: WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18148More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) radio frequency directed energy weapons, (b) DragonFire lasers and (c) other directed energy weapons for the protection of (i) UK and (ii) United States Vis
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has committed to accelerating the continued investment in UK Sovereign Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces swiftly. DEW technology mitigates against the increasing th...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLasers: WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18147More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to undertake a full procurement of Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapon capability.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to the continued investment in UK Sovereign Radio Frequency Directed Energy Weapons (RFDEW) technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace. The advanced technology is being developed b...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordLasers: WeaponsMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18146More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to increase funding for R&D on Directed Energy Weapons.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has committed to accelerating and the continued investment in UK Sovereign Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) technology, to provide cutting edge capability to the Armed Forces at pace. The programme is delivering capability demons...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has instituted a freeze in his Department on new procurement to satisfy Urgent Capability Requirements.
Answer: The Department has not been told to put a hold on new procurement in this financial year.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17847More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Maldives Government to discuss the future of the Chagos Islands since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met which representative of the Maldives on
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the lead Department for the international and community engagements in regards to the sovereignty negotiations. The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Go...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagossiansMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Chagossian community since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met how many Chagossians on each such occasion.
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is the lead Department for the international and community engagements in regards to the sovereignty negotiations. The Minister for Europe, North America and the Overseas Territories has met with members of...
Answered 12 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17845More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Maldives Government to discuss the future of the Chagos Islands since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met w
Answer: The Foreign Secretary met Maldives Foreign Minister Khaleel at the Commonwealth Heads of Government on 25 October. They discussed a range of issues, including matters relating to the British Indian Ocean Territory. Minister West also spoke with Foreign Mi...
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagossiansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17844More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Ministers from his Department have met representatives of the Chagossian community since 4 July 2024; and which Minister met how many Chagossians on each such occasion.
Answer: I have met with members of the Chagossian community twice since 4 July 2024. There are a large number of Chagossian groups in the UK and internationally with a spectrum of views. We will continue efforts to engage the community.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: SovereigntyForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces on 2 December 2024, Official Report, Column 27, if he will make an estimate of the cost to his Departme
Answer: This Agreement will be underpinned by a financial package which will support a new era of economic partnership between the UK and Mauritius and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossian communities. Financial obligati...
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDefence Equipment: ProcurementMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17842More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 17024 on Defence Equipment and Support, whether he has instructed his Department to put a hold on new procurement in this financial year.
Answer: The Department has not been told to put a hold on new procurement in this financial year.
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordNavy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary: ExpenditureMinistry of DefenceTabled 4 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost has been of (a) capital and (b) non-capital expenditure on (i) HMS Albion, (ii) HMS Bulwark, (iii) HMS Northumberland, (iv) RFA Wave Knight and (v) RFA Wave Ruler in each of the last five financial
Answer: A breakdown of the costs requested is set out in the attached table.
Answered 13 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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